Adjective
Of or pertaining to the heath family (Ericaceae).
Acid-loving, thriving in acidic conditions.
Usage- especially
- of a plant
- Examples
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Ericaceous plants include camellias, hollies, hydrangeas, and maples as well as members of the Ericaceae.
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Ralph E. Martin, a New Jersey engineer and gardener, concurs that coffee grounds for general garden and lawn use are too acid. He recommends small quantities for ericaceous (acid-loving) ornamentals.
Many people long to grow some of these beautiful ericaceous (acid-loving) plants, but think they can't because they don't have the appropriate soil.
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Soil acidity is important if you want to grow ericaceous (acid-loving) plants such as Pieris, Camellia, or Rhododendron.
acidic, acid-based
- Examples
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Camellias thrive when fed with an ericaceous fertiliser.
Acid-loving plants such as camellias, heathers, azaleas and rhododendrons are best planted in an ericaceous (acid) potting mix.
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Most fruits like a soil that is slightly acid to neutral 6–7 pH. These moorland plants, however, like an ericaceous (acid) soil with a pH more towards 5.
If your soil is alkaline, simply grow acid-lovers in containers of ericaceous (acid) potting compost.